Frame structure for truck or trailer bodies or the like



May 24, 1949. N. E. COLE,

FRAME STRUCTURE FOR TRUCK OR TRAILER BODIES OR THE LIKE 2 Sh ets-Sheec 1 Filed May 18', 1945 INVENTOR: fllsan'fl 6 01a,

ATTORNE May 24,1949. N E COLE 2,470,919

FRAME STRUbTU RE FOR TRUCK 0R TRAILER BODIES OR THE LIKE Filed May 18, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

Patented May 24, 1949 FRAME STRUCTURE FOR TRUCK OR TRAILER BODIES OR THE LIKE Nelson E. Cole, Reading, Pa., assignor to Parish Pressed Steel 00., Reading, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application May 18, 1946, Serial No. 670,786

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to frame structures of the general type embodied in modern trucks and trailers, and more particularly to reinforcing or gusset devices adapted to be cooperatively associated with such and similar frame structures.

In recent years, there has been a pronounced tendency toward the incorporation of standard high tensile steel members, instead of wooden members, in the frames of modern truck and trailer bodies. This tendency is mainly attributed to certain important advantages attained by the utilization of steel instead of wood in the manufacture of such frames. For example, the use of steel members makes it possible to standardize the frame construction details, This can be achieved with standardized prefabricated frame shapes and sections produced by economical mass production methods designed to simplify the body assembly. Frame designs in steel may also be held to more exact limits, since the physical properties of manufactured steel can be held to very close and uniform tolerances. Furthermore, steel body frame structures can be held to a much lower safety factor margin than when such structures are built of wood. Tests on runs of steels f the same make and grade show that there is rarely a difference in physical properties of more than five per cent. In comparison, lumber cut from the same log, may vary as much as 200 per cent, and in occasional instances its ability to act as a beam or strut for supporting a load varies to an even greater extent. These variations, in the case of wood, are due to the direction of the grain, the differences in the density of the fibers at different points thereof, and the presence of knots which distort the entire fiber structure in the immediate area of the knot. The present difficulties of obtaining properly seasoned lumber of dependable physical properties, also emphasizes the importance and advantages to be gained by utilizing metallic framing for truck and trailer bodies.

However, it has been found that the production of such metallic frame structures introduces certain problems which are characteristic of this particular type of frame construction. This will become more apparent when it is considered that the steel cross sills, utilized to form the base of such structures, are normally subjected to loads which greatly vary in magnitude under the different road and other conditions which prevail when a truck or trailer is in operation. For this reason, such sills must be either constructed of heavy gauge steel, which is undesirable because the weight thereof may be objectionable or prohibitive, or of lighter gauge steel, which in turn necessitates the application of special reinforcing means at certain locations, adapted to prevent such difiiculties as buckling of the sills, whenever the load at said locations becomes excessive. Since the design and general characteristics of such special reinforcing means plays an important part in the type and design of the lighter weight cross sills which can be satisfactorily used in a frame structure of the indicated type, it will be realized that the provision of satisfactory means of this type, requires that certain practical and commercial considerations and problems be successfully overcome.

One object of my invention is to provide special reinforcing means of the type indicated, in the form of a novel gusset or reinforcing device, which embodies structural and functional features of advantage over the similar devices of the prior art.

Another object is to provide such a device which is simple in construction, and which can be cheaply manufactured from sheet material, such as steel.

A further object is to provide such a device which may be readily formed of a single piece of sheet material, is relatively light in weight, and has other features and attributes of a desirable and advantageous nature.

It is also an object to provide such a device which is designed so that it can be readily secured to two adjacently arranged frame elements, such as the longitudinally extending beam and cross hill elements of a truck or trailer body frame, and which is adapted to establish maximum reinforcement at its point of application, so as to overcome the buckling and other forces acting on the frame elements at said location.

Another object is the provision of such a device which consists of sectional members that are shaped and arranged to facilitate attachment of the device to adjacently positioned frame elements, by welding or otherwise, and which members are designed and adapted to jointly form a connection between the frame members in such manner that the load bearing strength of one of the frame elements is greatly increased at said point of connection of the device.

With these and other objects in view, which will become more apparent from the following detailed description ofthe practical and illustrative forms of my device shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention comprises the improved gusset or reinforcing means and the novel elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship, as more particularly defined by the hereto appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the base section of a truck or trailer body frame structure, and shows my invention applied to certain elements of the latter.

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are, respectively, a top plan view, a side elevational view, and an edge elevational view, of one form of gusset device constructed in accordance with my invention, and

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 are, respectively, a top plan view, a side elevational view, and an edge elevational view, of another form of gusset device constructed in accordance with my invention.

In modern truck and trailer body structures, certain base frame elements are arranged substantially as depicted in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The elements referred to are the longitudinally extending beams or sills l and 2, and the cross sills 3, a multiplicity of which are provided and arranged crosswise of the longitudinal sills l and 2 as, indicated, but only one of which is shown for purposes of simplification of illustration. In an arrangement of this type, it'has been found that when a truck or trailer body is put to work under operating loads, certain stress conditions prevail in the-cross sills 3 which are accompanied by reacting forces, the nature and extent of which are fully explained in an article written by the inventor hereof and entitled Steel cross sills and mountings for modern steel body structures, which article appeared in the November 1, 1945, issue of the bi-monthly publication entitled Automotive and Aviation Industries, a publication of the Chilton Publication Co. of Philadelphia. This article may be referred to for an understanding of the stress conditions and reacting forces prevailing in frame constructions and arrangements of the type here involved. It also provides more detailed information concerning the theory and practice of associating reinforcing or gusset devices with such structures, and makes clear certain problems of a practical and commercial nature which are solved by my invention in a better and more satisfactory manner than by the means heretofore available for this purpose.

In practice, it has been found desirable and advantageous to construct the longitudinal sills I and 2 of wood, instead of steel, in order that the cross sills 3 may rest upon a material that will better cushion or absorb the shocks and vibrations to which the sills are subjected. However, the use of longitudinal sills made entirely of wood presents two serious problems. First, steel cross sills 3, when bearing directly upon the wood, will have a tendency to sink or wear into the wood when the truck or trailer is heavily loaded. After the load is removed, the cross sills can then reflect back into normal position, and this sometimes causes some of the cross sills to move out of contact with the longitudinally extending wooden sills at one point or another. Second, if the wood is not completely seasoned, it may shrink away from some of the cross sills 3, at certain points, and warp into closer contact with others. As a consequence of these conditions, certain of the cross sills 3 may carry more of the truck or trailer load than others, or will be twisted or bent when forced by the load, to move into contact with the longitudinal beams.

In order to retain the indicated cushioning or shock absorbing benefits derived when the beams l and 2 are made of wood, and at the same time avoid the referred to and other detrimental conditions directly traceable to longitudinal sills entirely of wood, steel capping or channel members E and 2 may be secured to the upper portion of the wooden beams I and 2, as shown in Fig. 1. These capping members function to spread or distribute the truck or trailer load uniformly along the beams I and 2, and in case of shrinkage or warping of the latter, at one point or another, will help to floatingly support the steel cross sills 3 over such affected areas of the beams.

When the cross sills 3, are subjected to certain load conditions, there is a tendency to cause buckling, sagging or bending thereof, as well as other difiiculties. To overcome these tendencies and the detrimental effects thereof, I provide gusset or reinforcing devices of the type disclosed in Figs. 2 to '7 inclusive of the drawings which are adapted to be positioned and secured to the frame elements I, 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

In accordance with my invention, two types or forms, of such gusset devices are provided, and these are preferably made of metal, such as steel. One form of device is adapted to be applied to the right hand side of the frame structure, and the other form of device is adapted to be applied to the left hand side of the frame structure. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 disclose the form of device which is adapted to be secured to the left hand frame elements, so as to form one cooperative arrangement with the latter, and Figs. 5, 6 and '7 disclose another form of device adapted to be secured to the right hand frame elements, to form another cooperative arrangement. Both forms of the device are substantially the same in construction, with the exception that one of the members of the device, in one instance, extends at an angle of 90 degrees in one direction from the main body portion of the device, andin the other instance, at an angle of 90 degrees in the opposite direction.

Referring now more particularly to the left hand form of gusset device shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, this generally comprises a fiat substantially square main body section 4, the lower part of which is provided with apertures 4 through which may be extended elements 4*, such as screws or bolts, adapted to secure the section 4 in sidewise relation to the longitudinally extending wooden beam 1. The upper part of the section 4 is are welded to a downwardly extending.

flange section of the steel capping channel 1 along the edge locations indicated by the numeral 5. The gusset device is provided with an integral member 6, which extends laterally from the member at an angle of degrees. The member 6 is substantially triangular in configuration and provided with a top edge 6 which is are welded to the underside of the cross sill 3, along said entire edge. A continuous or integral top extension 1 projects beyond the upper ,part of the member i, and this extension is also substantially triangular in configuration and is provided with an edge section 8 which is are welded to the exterior surface of the vertical wall of the sill 3. One edge of the extension I terminates in a laterally bent reinforcing flange 1 and an edge of the member 6 similarly terminates in a laterally ben't reinforcing flange 6 To reduce the weight of the gusset device, lightening apertures 9, II] and II are provided centrally of the various parts thereof, as shown.

As previously indicated, the form of gusset device shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '7, "is similar to the gusset device shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, but is shaped to function as a right hand gusset, and certain parts thereof consequently are oppositely arranged relative to the corresponding parts of the device of Figs. 2, 3 and 4.. The device of Figs. 5, 6 and 7 generally comprises a main body member I2 having a flat substantially square main body section the lower part of which is provided with apertures l2 through which may be extended elements I2 such as screws or bolts, adapted to secure the section I2 in sidewise relation to the longitudinally extending wooden beam 2. The upper part of the section I2 is are welded to a, downwardly extending flange section of the steel capping channel 2 along the edge locations indicated by the numeral I3. This gusset device is also provided with an integral member M, which extends laterally from the member I2 at an angle of 90 degrees. The member I4 is substantially triangular in configuration and provided with a top edge I l which is are welded to the underside of the cross sill 3, along said entire edge. A continuous or integral top extension I5 projects beyond the upper part of the member I2, and this extension is also substantially triangular in configuration and is provided with an edge section It which is are welded to the exterior surface of the vertical wall of the sill 3. One edge of the extension I5 terminates in a laterally bent reinforcing fiange Hi and an edge of the member I l similarly terminates in a laterally bent reinforcing flange M To reduce the Weight of the gusset device, lightening apertures I'I, I8 and I9 are provided centrally of the various parts thereof, as shown.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when the right and left hand gusset devices of my invention are secured to truck or trailer frame elements, such as the beams I and 2 and cross sill 3, each of the gusset devices provides a two-way combination gusset element arrangement ,which cooperates with the frame elements to which it is secured. Furthermore, that the triangular portions 6 and I4 of the gusset devices, when welded to the bottom flange of the cross sill 3, will result in T sections at their respective points of location, which prevent direct top loads and lower reacting forces from buckling the sill 3 at said locations. This arrangement of the gusset devices also provides the additional advantage of spreading the effect of the reactionary load forces out along the sill, for several inches towards both ends thereof, and away from the direction of origin of such forces. The extensions 1 and I5 of the gusset devices reach up on the web of the cross sill 3 and become an effective torsional brace for the latter. The welded assembly of the cross sill 3, the bearing channels I and 2 and the gusset devices, therefore provide a boxed-in corner effect which is most rigid at the point of greatest load reaction stress, and which gradually becomes more flexible and yielding as the reactionary forces are dissipated further out in a wider spread area along the frame elements. In other words, this combination has a highly desirable uniform load cushioning or shock absorbing ability due to the fact that it ties frame elements, such as the sills 3, down to wooden beams I and 2, in such manner as to distribute the loads evenly therealong.

Another feature'of the gusset devices of my invention resides in the arrangement of the edges thereof which are adapted to be welded to the cross sills 3. In the technique of welding cross sills at or near load reaction points, it has been found that some high tensile steels lose a great share of their strength at the point of weld when subjected to welding heats. Therefore, welding across a section has a tendency to reduce its strength, substantially as when cutting across the section. Because of this, all weld lines should be parallel with the running lengths of the cross sill, or crosswise of the sills 3 at their area of support on the bearing angles or channels, as accomplished when the gusset devices of my invention are welded to said cross sills, in the manner shown.

Of course, the truck and trailer body frame improvements specifically shown and described, can be changed and modified in various Ways by those skilled in this art, without departing from the invention herein disclosed and more particularly defined by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with two superimposed crosswise extending base frame elements of a truck body or the like; of a gusset device comprising two integrally united angularly arranged members, one of which members is provided with a flat body section adapted to be secured in sidewise relation to the lower frame element and has a triangular brace extension one edge of which terminates in a reinforcing flange and the other edge of which is secured in crosswise relation to the upper frame element; and the other of which members is triangularly shaped and provided with an upper edge section secured in lengthwise relation to the underside of the upper frame element.

2. In combination with two superimposed intersecting base frame elements of a truck body or the like, the lower one of which elements is made of wood and provided with a metallic bearing channel at its top on which the other frame element rests; of a gusset device comprising two integrally united angularly arranged members, one of which members is provided with a fiat body section secured in sidewise relation to the bearing channel and has a triangular extension provided with an edge section secured to a vertical side of the upper frame element; and the other of which members is triangularly shaped and provided with an edge section terminating in a free reinforcing flange and another edge section secured to the underside of the upper frame element.

3. In combination with superimposed crosswise extending frame elements of a truck body or the like, one of which elements is made of wood and has a metallic bearing channel at its top on which the second metallic frame element rests; of a gusset device formed of a single piece of sheet steel and comprising two angularly arranged members, one of which member is provided with a flat body section adapted to be secured in sidewise relation to the wooden frame element and the metallic bearing channel and has a triangular brace extension provided with an edge section arranged to be welded in crosswise relation to a vertical side wall portion of the second frame element; and. the other of which members is triangularly shaped and provided with an edge section terminating in a reinforcing flange and another dge section adapted to be welded in lengthwise relation to the underside of the second 'frame element.

4. In combination with two superimposed crosswise extending base frame elements of a truck body or the like; of a gusset device comprising two integrally united .angularly arranged members, one of which members is provided with a. body section adapted to be secured in sidewise relation to the lower frame element and has a triangular brace extension one edge of which is secured in crosswise relation to the upper frame element; and the other of which members is triangularly shaped and provided with an upper edge section secured in lengthwise relation to the underside of the upper frame element.

NELSON E. COLE.

REFERENCES CITED "The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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